Edwards, Richard · published 1571 · first performed or written 1564 [1564-1568] (Annals) comedy · Children of the Chapel (first) (Oxford's Boys) · before the Court unassigned nearest T53 The crown: kingship claimed, resigned an · 493 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T53: crown, king, state, life, lord, lords, live, queen, tullia, prince.
My friend, in this case I can do you no pleasure. Sir, you serve in the Court as Fame doth tell. I am of the Court in deed, but none of the Counsel. As I hear, none is in greater favour with the King than you at this day, The more in favour, the less I dare say. It is a Courtiers praise to help straingers in misery. To help an other and hurt myself, it is an evil point of courtesy. You shall not hurt yourself to speak for the innocent. He is not innocent, whom the king judgeth nocent. Why sir? do you think this matter past all remedy? So far past that Dionysius hath sworn Damon to morrow shall die. This word my trembling heart cutteh in two, Ah sir, in this woeful case, what witted I best to do. Best to content yourself, when there is no remedy, He is well relieved that for knoweth his misery, Yet if any comfort be, it resteth in Eubulus, The chiefest counsellor about king Dionysius: Which pitieth Damon's case in this great extremity, Persuading the king from all kind of cruelty. The mighty Gods preserve you for this word of comfort, Taking my leave of your goodness, I will now resort, To Eubulus that good Counsellor: But hark, me think I hear a Trumpet blow. The king is at hand, stand close in the press, beware: if he know You are friend to Damon, he will take you for a spy also: Farewell I dare not be seen with you. Gronoo, do my commandment, strike off Damon's Icons by & by, Then bring him forth, I myself will see him executed presently. O mighty King, your commandment will I do speedily. Eubulus: thou hast talked in vain, for sure he shall die. Shall I suffer my life to stand in peril of every Spy? That he conspired against your person, his Accuser can not say, He only viewed your City, and will you for that make him away. What he would have done, the guess is great, he minded me to hurt That came so slily to search out the secret estate of my Court: Shall I still live in fear? no, not: I will cut off such Imps betime, Lest that to my further danger, too hie they climb. Yet have the mighty Gods, immortal Fame assigned, To all worldly Princes, which in mercy be inclined. Let Fame talk what she list, so I may live in safety. The only mean to that, is to use mercy. A mild Prince the people despiseth. A cruel king the people hateth. Let them hate me, so they fear me. That is not the way to live in safety. My sword and power shall purchase my quietness. That is sooner procured by mercy and gentleness. Dionysius aught to be feared. Better for him to be well-beloved. Fortune maketh all things subject to my power.
seed 43: unassigned · seed 44: unassigned — topic numbers are assigned independently in each run; equal or different numbers say nothing by themselves
Original spelling (EEBO-TCP, unregularized)
My friend, in this case I can doo you no pleasure. Syr, you serue in the Court as Fame doth tell. I am of the Court in déede, but none of the Counsell. As I heare, none is in greater fauour with the Kinge then you at this day, The more in fauour, the lesse I dare say. It is a Courtiers prayse to helpe straingers in miserie. To helpe an other and hurte my selfe, it is an euyll point of courtese. You shall not hurt your selfe to speake for the innocent. He is not innocent, whom the kinge iudgeth nocent. Why sir? doo you thinke this matter paste all remedie? So fare past that Dionisius hath sworne Damon to morow shall di This word my trembling heart cutteh in twoo, Ah sir, in this wofull case, what wist I best to doo. ¶ Best to content your selfe, when there is no remedie, He is well reliued that for knoweth his miserie, Yet if any comfort be, it resteth in Eubulus, The chiefest counsellour about kinge Dionisius: Which pitieth Damons case in this great extremitie, Perswadyng the kynge from all kynde of crueltie. ¶ The mightie Gods preserue you for this worde of comforte, Takyng my leaue of your goodnesse, I wyll now resorte, To Eubulus that good Counseller: But harke, me thinke I heare a Trompet blow. ¶The kyng is at hand, stande close in the prease, beware: if he know You are friend to Damon, e wyll take you for a spie also: Farewell I dare not be séene with you. ¶Gronoo, doo my cōmaundement, strike off Damons Icons by & by, Then bryng hym foorth, I my selfe will sée him executed presently. ¶O mightie Kyng, your commaundement wyll I doo spéedely. ¶Eubulus: thou hast talked in vaine, for sure he shall die. Shall I suffre my lyfe to stande in peryll of euerie Spie? ¶That he conspired against your person, his Accuser can not say, He onely viewed your Citie▪ and wyll you for that make hym away. What he would haue done, the gesse is great, he minded mée to hurt That came so flily to serch out the secret estate of my Courte: Shall I styll lyue in feare? no, no: I wyll cut off suche Impes betime▪ Least that to my further daunger, too hie they clime. ¶Yet haue the mightie Goddes, immortall Fame assigned▪ To all worldly Princes, whiche in mercie be inclined. Let Fame talke what she lyst, so I may lyue in safetie. ¶ The onely meane to that, is to vse mercie. ¶A milde Prince the people despiseth. ¶ A cruell kynge the people hateth. ¶Let them hate me, so they feare mée. That is not the way to lyue in safetie. ¶My sword and power shall purchase my quietnesse. ¶ That is sooner procured by mercy and gentilnesse. ¶ Dionisius ought to be feared. ¶ Better for him to be welbeloued. ¶ Fortune maketh all thinges subiect to my power.